Testing gets underway at Mugello

The first in-season test since 2008 got underway at Mugello on Tuesday morning in damp conditions.

This year the teams agreed to trade one pre-season test for a chance to hit the track at Mugello in Italy over the next three days. Lotus described the conditions as "moist and misty" on Twitter, which will be frustrating for teams wanting to gather meaningful information on updates and better understand the slick Pirelli tyres.

Half the field has a familiar feel to it with Mark Webber driving the Red Bull, Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari, Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes (with Michael Schumacher taking over in the afternoon), Kamui Kobayashi in the Sauber, Jean-Eric Vergne in the Toro Rosso and Charles Pic in the Marussia.

The rest of the teams are giving their test drivers a run, with Oliver Turvey spending the morning in the McLaren before handing it over to Gary Paffett, Lotus running Jerome d'Ambrosio, Jules Bianchi driving the Force India, Valtteri Bottas in the Williams and Rodolfo Gonzalez in the Caterham.

HRT has opted not to run at the test, instead focusing on work at their new base in Madrid.

Following the Rugby Football Union's announcement on Sunday that England Sevens coach Ben Ryan is set to relinquish his role, various past, present and future England internationals have taken to Twitter to praise him